Demona Anderson told authorities that she was only trying to stop Dwan Jones, 42, from getting on a bus when she struck him with the vehicle near Frankstown and Paulson avenues in February 2013, after she had called Pittsburgh police to report that Jones allegedly hit her.

"I lost a great brother -- my best friend. My life has been lost behind this," said Jones' sister, Shelita McIver. "He leaves behind 10 children, and we're just hurting very bad behind this."

The defense was seeking probation instead of prison for Jones' death.

Anderson said it was an accident, and she tearfully asked Allegheny County Judge Donald Machen for mercy, but the judge told the East Pittsburgh woman that she was incorrect and that it was no accident. Her defense allowed that the action of striking Jones with a vehicle was deliberate but said Anderson had no intention to kill.

Machen found Anderson, 42, guilty of involuntary manslaughter after a non-jury trial in May. Her sentence was the maximum penalty allowed under sentencing guidelines. She has 30 days to report to prison, which gives her time to arrange for the care of her seven children.

Assistant District Attorney Edward Scheid argued for a murder conviction during the trial, saying that Anderson "decided to create tragedy" rather than wait for her 911 call to be answered.

LET'S GET STRAIGHT TO BOB MAYO JOINING US LIVE THIS NOON. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS WOMAN IS HEADING TO PRISON. SHE'S HEADED TO A STATE PEN PENITENTIARY. IT WAS BACK IN 2013 THAT SHE HIT HER BOYFRIEND, DWAYNE JONES WITH A MINIVAN. SHE WAS TRYING TO KEEP HIM FROM GETTING ON A BUS. SHE HAD CALLED POLICE TO REPORT ALLEGEDLY HITTING HER, AS SHE TEARFULLY ASKED FOR MERCY, HER DEFENSE WAS SEEKING TO HAVE HER RELEASED ON PROBATION. SHE HAD SAID IT WAS AN ACCIDENT THAT DAY. THE JUDGE WHO HEARD THE CASE IN THE NON-JURY TRIAL SAID IT WAS NO ACCIDENT. HE SAID THAT HER STATEMENT WAS INCORRECT. THE DEFENSE ALLOWED THAT, YES, THE STRIKING OF THE CAR WAS DELIBERATE, BUT IT WAS NOT HER INTENTION TO TRY TO KILL HIM. THE VICTIM'S SISTER WAS AMONG THOSE WHO SPOKE IN COURT BEFORE THE JUDGE, TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE LOSS OF HER BROTHER ON THE FAMILY. I LOST A GREAT BROTHER, MY BEST FRIEND, MY LIFE HAS BEEN LOST BEHIND THIS. HE LEAVES BEHIND TEN CHILDREN, AND WE JUST HURT. SO ANDERSON IS SENTENCE TO DO 18 MONTHS FOR FIVE YEARS IN THE STATE PENITENTIARY. THAT'S MAXIMUM UNDER THE SENTENCING GUIDELINES, THE MAXIMUM THAT THE FAMILY HAD ASKED HER TO BE SENTENCED TO, THE FAMILY OF THE VICTIM, THE SISTER SAYING AFTERWARDS THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE MAXIMUM